This is the blog that press releases sent to Mayor Sam will be posted to.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

RE: Patt Morrison for Wednesday, September 7, 2011

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

1-3 p.m.

1:06 – 1:18 OPEN

1:23 – 1:39

If politics is show business for ugly people than will these good looking GOP candidates have an advantage?

Love them or hate them, you have to admit that this is a pretty good looking crop of Republican presidential candidates. Mitt Romney has classic matinee-idol good looks; Rick Perry uses his Texas swagger for full appeal, and looks good in the process; Michele Bachmann is undeniably beautiful; Jon Huntsman has an attractive, elder statesman thing going on. And the one candidate who might be the best looking of all, a certain former governor of Alaska and former vice president nominee herself, isn’t even officially in the race yet. When the candidates for the Republican nomination square off tonight in a debate at the Reagan Library, the first of a series of debates over the next several weeks, we’ll be listening for their policy positions on the economy, on the debt, on immigration, Afghanistan, healthcare and more. But we’ll be watching their mannerisms, their smiles, their eyes, their hair styles, their clothing and how all of these factors come together, to form some idea of attractiveness, might even influence how we vote. It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that, according to research, voters who watch a lot of television but don’t really know much about the candidates will tend to rely more on looks when making a decision. And gender also plays a role: since there is one real female candidate in Rep. Bachmann, and one teaser candidate in Sarah Palin, it’s worth noting that female political candidates fare better in surveys about their appearances than at the polls. So listen for policy, depth and substance tomorrow night when you’re watching the GOP debate, but don’t forget to check out the hair & and threads.

Guests:

Gabriel Lenz, assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley

or

Chappell Lawson, associate professor of political science at MIT

Adam Scheib, hairstylist at Sally Hershberger Salon in Los Angeles

PATT: Up next, we’ll be continuing the conversation with… / NEW SEGMENT

[BREAK]

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Why do we love 9/11 conspiracy theories?

A look back at the events of 9/11/01 is as much about analyzing how it forever changed us politically, as it is about how we tell the story. Countless historians, politicians and theologians have attempted to make sense of it, employing political, philosophical and religious analyses to explain it. But how can a tragedy of such magnitude ever be satisfactorily explained? It's no coincidence that the decade following 9/11 has arguably brought the largest flurry of conspiracy theories in US history, with everyone getting some share of the blame at some point, from rogue elements of the American government to Israel. A Scripps-Howard poll from 2007 found that 37% of respondents believed that it was “very likely” that some people in the federal government had specific warnings of the 9/11 attacks but chose to ignore those warnings. Websites, documentaries, conventions, protests, and movements have all developed in the past decade built around the belief that something even more nefarious and insidious than a group of hijackers armed with box cutters was responsible for 9/11. From where did these theories spring? No retrospective of 9/11 can ignore the vast number of conspiracy theories generated by 9/11's wake. Patt reviews some of those and talks with a behavioral psychologist about the role conspiracy theories have played in Americans' collective memory of 9/11.

Guest:

Ilan Shrira, social psychologist at the University of Florida in Gainsville & author of the paper “Paranoia, 9/11 and the roots of conspiracy theories,” published in Psychology Today

2:06 – 2:30

The heroes of 9/11: what obligation do we have to serve and protect those who sacrificed in the name of duty?

Many of the brave men and women who first arrived on the scene on September 11, 2001 and worked 12- and in some cases 16-hour days removing body parts and debris now find themselves transformed. They showed up to work ill prepared for the toxic chemicals that would later change their lives and the lives of their families. Working without masks to protect their nose, throats and lungs from the dangerous chemicals in the air (following assurances from officials that the air was safe) many in the crew working on "the pile" developed what they called "The World Trade Center Cough." Later, it would be diagnosed as asthma, scars on the lungs or cancer. But the physical ailments are only half the story. Imagine having to look into the eyes of the victims’ families and friends "on the other side of the fence" and hearing their pleas and taking their photos in the hopes that you might find someone, one person, alive. But instead, you find body parts. One first responder said he was deeply affected by the sound of crickets, but couldn't figure out why. He finally made the connection. Firemen wear what's called a "Viper" so they can be located if they become unconscious or trapped. The Viper makes a chirping sound when a fireman stops moving for a given period of time. On September 11, Vipers were chirping under the rubble, a constant reminder of their fallen brothers. The sights, smells and devastation the first responders had to endure is unimaginable. Sleep apnea, depression, nightmares haunt many of them. How have we treated the people who ran toward the collapsing towers? Many were forced to retire early due to a health related disabilities or PTSD symptoms, but have we provided for their health care and compensated them for the years they weren't able to work and build a pension? The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was introduced to do just that. It passed, but some Republicans balked at the price tag, so it was reduced from $6.2 billion to $2.75 billion. And despite evidence that first responders have a 20 percent greater risk to develop cancer in the first seven years after exposure to a toxic dust cloud, cancer treatment is not included. Can we afford to pay for the men and women who jumped in with little regard for the personal consequence?

Guests:

John Devlin, operating engineer with Local 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Worked for 9 1/2 months at Ground Zero. He has stage 4 inoperable lung cancer.

Anthony Flamia, former police officer with NYPD Highway Patrol who worked at Ground Zero

Glen Klein, former New York City Police Officer in the Emergency Service Unit (a SWAT and Rescue unit). He was at Ground Zero before the 2nd tower collapsed. He lost 14 of his co-workers and has PTSD.

Ken George, officer, New York City Highway Department, DOT; he worked from 9/11 to 2/02 at Ground Zero

2:30 – 2:58:30

Muslim and living in the United States on September 11

September 11 affected all of us deeply, but for many Muslims living in the United States, it changed everything. The distrust that followed lead to major legislation like the Patriot Act, but for some Muslim youths, the suspicion and ignorance swirling in the air after 9/11 made them simultaneously question their traditions and solidify their sense of self. Patt talks to 5 Muslim youth to hear how the events of that day and the depiction of Muslims in the days, weeks and months that followed had an impact on their lives.

Guests:

Tasbeeh Herwees,a fourth year, print and digital journalism major at USC Annenberg School of Journalism

Nida Chowdhry, she graduated from UC Irvine in 2009 with a B.A. in English and Film and Media Studies.

Kifah Shah (kih-FAH) (Shaw), she graduated from UC Berkeley in 2010 with a B.A. in Ethnic Studies. She worked at the Asian law caucus and is currently applying to masters programs in public policy.